A Father's Perspective on Louisiana's Family Health Crisis

May 14, 2026 - 16:58

As a father of twins, one in heaven and one here on earth, this thought weighs on me often. After losing my daughter, I made a decision in my son's future that changed everything. I stepped up. I became present. I realized that fatherhood is the missing link in Louisiana's family health crisis.

For too long, the conversation around maternal and child health has focused almost entirely on mothers. And rightly so in many ways. But we have ignored the role fathers play in the equation. When fathers are absent, disengaged, or unsupported, the entire family suffers. The statistics in Louisiana are grim. High infant mortality rates, poor maternal health outcomes, and struggling families are all connected to a lack of paternal involvement.

I am not saying mothers are not doing their part. They are doing more than their share. But we cannot keep pretending that fathers do not matter. When a father shows up for prenatal appointments, when he helps with late-night feedings, when he provides emotional and financial support, the whole family does better. Children with involved fathers have better health outcomes, higher self-esteem, and stronger academic performance.

We need programs that support fathers, not just mothers. We need to change the narrative that fatherhood is optional. It is not. It is essential. My son deserves a father who is present. Every child in Louisiana deserves the same.